Electrical connector assembly with improved shielding effect and locking structure

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a metal casing. The electrical connector includes an insulating body and a number of conductive terminals. The insulating body includes a slot. Each conductive terminal includes an abutting portion. The metal casing includes a receiving cavity. When a mating connector is inserted into the receiving cavity and has not yet made contact with the conductive terminals of the electrical connector, a better shielding effect can be achieved. Some of the abutting portions are adapted for electrically connecting with a circuit board, and some of the abutting portions of the conductive terminals are connected with a cable. The metal casing includes a hook portion locking with a lock surface of the circuit board. Therefore, the metal casing can be prevented from detaching from the circuit board in case an external force is applied to pull the cable.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
 an electrical connector comprising an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals fixed to the insulating body, the insulating body defining a slot, each conductive terminal comprising an elastic contact portion and an abutting portion, the elastic contact portions of the conductive terminals protruding into the slot for mating with a mating connector, some of the abutting portions of the conductive terminals being adapted for electrically connecting with a circuit board, and some of the abutting portions of the conductive terminals being connected with a cable; and 
 a metal casing shielding the electrical connector, the metal casing defining a receiving cavity in communication with the slot, the receiving cavity being located at a front end of the slot, and the slot and the receiving cavity being adapted for jointly receiving the mating connector; 
 wherein the circuit board comprises a mounting hole and a conical surface exposed to the mounting hole; 
 wherein the metal casing comprises a locking tab inserted into the mounting hole, the locking tab comprises a hook portion locking with the conical surface in order to prevent the locking tab from being detaching from the circuit board; 
 wherein the mounting hole comprises a first mounting hole, a second mounting hole and a third mounting hole connected between the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole, the first mounting hole is larger in diameter than the second mounting hole, the conical surface encloses the third mounting hole; and 
 wherein the locking tab is inserted into the first mounting hole, the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking tab comprises an extending portion defining a slit which is peripherally enclosed by the extending portion, the locking tab includes a first tab located on one side of the slit, a second tab located on the other side of the slit, and a connection portion connecting a free end of the first tab and a free end of the second tab; the hook portion comprises a first hook integrally formed with the first tab and a second hook integrally formed with the second tab, and the first hook is opposite to the second hook. 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the first tab comprises a first inclined surface, the second tab comprises a second inclined surface, the connection portion comprises an arced surface connecting with first inclined surface and the second inclined surface; the first inclined surface, the second inclined surface and the arced surface jointly guide insertion of the locking tab into the mounting hole. 
     
     
       4. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal casing comprises a first side edge, a plurality of first mounting feet protruding from the first side edge, a second side edge and a plurality of second mounting feet protruding from the second side edge; wherein the first side edge and the second side edge are located on opposite sides of the metal casing, respectively; and wherein the first mounting feet and the second mounting feet are arranged staggered along a width direction perpendicular to a mating direction. 
     
     
       5. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein each first mounting foot defines a first through hole so that the first mounting foot has elasticity so as to be easily pressed into a first conductive hole of the circuit board; and
 wherein each second mounting foot defines a second through hole so that the second mounting foot has elasticity so as to be easily pressed into a second conductive hole of the circuit board. 
 
     
     
       6. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the metal casing comprises a plurality of first locking feet protruding from the first side edge and a plurality of second locking feet protruding from the second side edge, the first locking feet and the second locking feet are arranged staggered along the width direction perpendicular to the mating direction, each first locking foot comprises a first barb, each second locking foot comprises a second barb, the first barb is adapted for being inserted into a first locking hole of the circuit board so as to be fixed with the circuit board, and the second barb is adapted for being inserted into a second locking hole of the circuit board so as to be fixed with the circuit board. 
     
     
       7. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein along the first side edge, at least parts of the first mounting feet and the first locking feet are alternately disposed; and wherein along the second side edge, at least parts of the second mounting feet and the second locking feet are alternately disposed. 
     
     
       8. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating body comprises a mounting wall having a mounting surface, the mounting wall comprises a plurality of opening slots arranged at intervals, and the abutting portions adapted for pressing against the circuit board extend through the opening slots to extend beyond the mounting surface. 
     
     
       9. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal casing comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall connecting one side of the top wall and one side of the bottom wall, and a second side wall connecting the other side of the top wall and the other side of the bottom wall; and wherein the receiving cavity is jointly enclosed by the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall and the second side wall. 
     
     
       10. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal casing comprises a mating surface and an opening exposed on the mating surface; and wherein the electrical connector comprises a light guiding member extending to the opening. 
     
     
       11. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic contact portions disposed in the slot are arranged in two rows, and the two rows of the elastic contact portions jointly clamp a part of the mating connector. 
     
     
       12. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
 an electrical connector comprising an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals fixed to the insulating body, the insulating body defining a slot, each conductive terminal comprising an elastic contact portion and an abutting portion, the elastic contact portions of the conductive terminals protruding into the slot for mating with a mating connector, some of the abutting portions of the conductive terminals being adapted for electrically connecting with a circuit board, and some of the abutting portions of the conductive terminals being connected with a cable; and 
 a metal casing shielding the electrical connector, the metal casing defining a receiving cavity in communication with the slot, the receiving cavity being located at a front end of the slot, and the slot and the receiving cavity being adapted for jointly receiving the mating connector; 
 wherein the metal casing comprises a first side edge, a plurality of first mounting feet protruding from the first side edge, a second side edge and a plurality of second mounting feet protruding from the second side edge; wherein the first side edge and the second side edge are located on opposite sides of the metal casing, respectively; 
 wherein the metal casing comprises a plurality of first locking feet protruding from the first side edge and a plurality of second locking feet protruding from the second side edge, each first locking foot comprises a first barb, each second locking foot comprises a second barb, the first barb is adapted for being inserted into a first locking hole of the circuit board so as to be fixed with the circuit board, and the second barb is adapted for being inserted into a second locking hole of the circuit board so as to be fixed with the circuit board; and 
 wherein the circuit board comprises a first surface facing the electrical connector assembly and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first locking hole extends through the first surface, the circuit board further comprises an enlarged hole extending through the second surface, the enlarged hole is in communication with the first locking hole, the circuit board forms a locking surface at a junction of the enlarged hole and the first locking hole, and the first barb is locked on the locking surface. 
 
     
     
       13. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the first mounting feet and the second mounting feet are arranged staggered along a width direction perpendicular to a mating direction; and
 wherein the first locking feet and the second locking feet are arranged staggered along the width direction perpendicular to the mating direction. 
 
     
     
       14. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each first mounting foot defines a first through hole so that the first mounting foot has elasticity so as to be easily pressed into a first conductive hole of the circuit board; and
 wherein each second mounting foot defines a second through hole so that the second mounting foot has elasticity so as to be easily pressed into a second conductive hole of the circuit board. 
 
     
     
       15. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
 a first electrical connector assembly; 
 a second electrical connector; and 
 a circuit board comprising a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; 
 the first electrical connector assembly comprising: 
 an electrical connector comprising an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals fixed to the insulating body, the insulating body comprising a slot, each conductive terminal comprising an elastic contact portion and an abutting portion, the elastic contact portions of the conductive terminals protruding into the slot for mating with a mating connector, wherein the abutting portions of the plurality of conductive terminals are hybrid, in which some of the abutting portions of the conductive terminals are mechanically and electrically connected with the circuit board, and some of the abutting portions of the conductive terminals are mechanically and electrically connected with a cable; and wherein the cable is neither mechanically or electrically connected with the circuit board; and 
 a metal casing shielding the electrical connector, the metal casing defining a receiving cavity in communication with the slot, the receiving cavity being located at a front end of the slot, and the slot and the receiving cavity being adapted for receiving the mating connector; 
 wherein the first electrical connector assembly is mounted to the first side of the circuit board, and the second electrical connector is mounted to the second side of the circuit board. 
 
     
     
       16. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the circuit board comprises a mounting hole and a conical surface exposed to the mounting hole; and
 wherein the metal casing comprises a locking tab inserted into the mounting hole, the locking tab comprises a hook portion locking with the conical surface in order to prevent the locking tab from being detaching from the circuit board. 
 
     
     
       17. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the locking tab comprises an extending portion defining a slit which is peripherally enclosed by the extending portion, the locking tab includes a first tab located on one side of the slit, a second tab located on the other side of the slit, and a connection portion connecting a free end of the first tab and a free end of the second tab; the hook portion comprises a first hook integrally formed with the first tab and a second hook integrally formed with the second tab, and the first hook is opposite to the second hook. 
     
     
       18. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the first tab comprises a first inclined surface, the second tab comprises a second inclined surface, the connection portion comprises an arced surface connecting with first inclined surface and the second inclined surface; the first inclined surface, the second inclined surface and the arced surface jointly guide insertion of the locking tab into the mounting hole. 
     
     
       19. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the mounting hole comprises a first mounting hole, a second mounting hole and a third mounting hole connected between the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole, the first mounting hole is larger in diameter than the second mounting hole, the conical surface encloses the third mounting hole; and
 wherein the locking tab is inserted into the first mounting hole, the second mounting hole and the third mounting hole. 
 
     
     
       20. The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the metal casing comprises a first side edge, a plurality of first mounting feet protruding from the first side edge, a second side edge and a plurality of second mounting feet protruding from the second side edge; wherein the first side edge and the second side edge are located on opposite sides of the metal casing, respectively;
 wherein the metal casing comprises a plurality of first locking feet protruding from the first side edge and a plurality of second locking feet protruding from the second side edge, each first locking foot comprises a first barb, each second locking foot comprises a second barb, the first barb is adapted for being inserted into a first locking hole of the circuit board so as to be fixed with the circuit board, and the second barb is adapted for being inserted into a second locking hole of the circuit board so as to be fixed with the circuit board; and 
 wherein the circuit board comprises a first surface facing the first electrical connector assembly and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first locking hole extends through the first surface, the circuit board further comprises an enlarged hole extending through the second surface, the enlarged hole is in communication with the first locking hole, the circuit board forms a locking surface at a junction of the enlarged hole and the first locking hole, and the first barb is locked on the locking surface.